If our pal, Gil “The Godfather” Brandt is correct, the Falcons need to start preparing for the Seattle Seahawks.
Brandt, a senior analyst for NFL.Com, gave his predictions.
He has the Packers beating Minnesota and Seattle beating Washington in the wild card round of the playoffs.
As the No. 5 seed, the Seahawks would be the lowest seed to advance and under that scenario, would face the top-seeded Falcons at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13th at the Georgia Dome.
Brandt also ranked the playoff quarterbacks. He has Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers as the No. 1 quarterback in the playoffs and Minnesota’s Christian Ponder as the 12th rated playoff quarterback.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the fifth rated quarterback in the playoffs behind Rogers, Denver’s Peyton Manning, New England’s Tom Brady and Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, according Brandt.
Here’s what he wrote about Ryan:
5) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan’s got 56 wins in five years, but he hasn’t played well in the playoffs. Where guys like Flacco play better in the postseason, Ryan seems to have trouble. The quarterback should be the guy making the difference; Ryan should be coming to the fore when the stakes are high. Perhaps offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who’s done a great job in his first year with the Falcons, will help Ryan find postseason success.
Ryan is 0-3 in the playoffs.
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65 comments Add your comment
felix the cat
January 4th, 2013
7:46 am
Falcons are in the Super Bowl! You heard it here FIRST!!
great expectations
January 4th, 2013
7:54 am
felix is correct.
teamguy
January 4th, 2013
8:02 am
Listening to Gil Brandt is a lot like listening to Beano Cook. . .entertaining, but usually wrong.
DeepDiver
January 4th, 2013
8:07 am
Behind Flacco? That’s absurd. Flacco is a game manager that has been propped up in years past by a stifling defense.
Ryan has to win games for the Falcons and has always worked with a patchwork D.
SimpleDawg
January 4th, 2013
8:17 am
Falcons need playoff wins…..
Kramer
January 4th, 2013
8:37 am
I can see why the seahawks pick may makes sense for people but, lets remember they are not a good road team at 3-5 this year. Also, the Redskins are a solid home team. I would not be placing bets based on Brandt’s prediction so fast.
FalconsFan
January 4th, 2013
8:40 am
Wait, Flacco plays better in the playoffs? Since when? I understand Brady, Manning and Rodgers, there’s no debating that but Flacco hasn’t been the reason the Ravens win playoff games.
ibelieve
January 4th, 2013
8:53 am
Before the season began i picked the Falcons and Ravens in the Super Bowl, with the Falcons taking the trophy. I still feel that way. I know their is hype for one team right now but, I still like the Falcons. For the Falcons it will not be about Ryan, it will be about Nolan and his defense. If the Falcons defense play with winning emotion and play assinment football they will win!!
We are playing for respect,,no one respect us…The Lord forgive the Experts for they know not what they do. Ex..(is a has been) and a Pert..( is a drip under pressure)
NC Falcon
January 4th, 2013
9:04 am
So, when the Falcons win their first playoff game next week can we expect all the so called experts to finally announce that the Falcons are for real? Of course not. They’ve sung this “no playoff win” song for years and once the Falcons do win one the “experts” will find another phantom issue to deny respect. Not until the Falcons win it all and jam it down the throats of the naysayers will they be taken seriously and I expect Ryan and Co. will deliver this year.
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2013
9:09 am
All of these guys, on all of these different networks and organizations, predicting the outcome of these NFL games, are just like all of us ordinary fans, they are just guessing.
I think that the Redskins will beat the Seahawks, that’s my guess.
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2013
9:10 am
Btw, Rodney Harrison of NBC Sunday Night Football, is a butt-whistle.
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2013
9:12 am
New Orleans Taints, 7-9………..Har de har har.
Birdhouse
January 4th, 2013
9:16 am
Agree w/Kramer..Seattle hot but not at home. I’d take Washington.
Elvis is Alive
January 4th, 2013
9:19 am
Bring the SEA-CHICKS on!
Rookie QB in our house!
Hope Abe is able and Kroy and Babineaul attack! (I know they will, they are monsters).
If Willie Mo is back n the secondary and Asante plays without the Celebratory Victory Dance(CVD) (save the CVD for your personal DVD) we should be able to disrupt their rhythm.
They have an excellent secondary so our OL needs to keep them away from MR2.
Will Michael”Stone Legs”Turner prove he is capable of fighting for yardage?
Will he run like it is Last Call at the bar?
I cannot wait fo the game whoever we play!
Remember Falcons..”It’s Now or Next Year”..
Prove the talking heads and the haters wrong!
Focus and discipline. Stay awake for the trick college play!
Play to win!!
Rise Up..Angry Birds..Rise Up..
Vu Ḉa Avant
January 4th, 2013
9:19 am
In the NFC, #3 will beat #6; and #4 will beat #5; then #4 will beat #1 and #2 will beat #3; then #2 will beat #4 to advance.
North Ave. Faithful
January 4th, 2013
9:32 am
Seattle defense is scary, would rather take my chances with redskins. Maybe RG3 will have spoon flashbacks.
Mike is Back
January 4th, 2013
9:49 am
Dled, hard to disagree with the GF…I think the Seahawks will prevail too. IF I’M THE BIRDS…I don’t give a flip who wins…I’M just ready to kick some assssssssssssssssssssssss!!
RISE UP BIRDS…LET YO HATERS…BE YO MOTIVATOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ivan
January 4th, 2013
10:04 am
oh wow.
An analyst pointed out Smith/Ryan are 0-3 in the playoffs. I’ve never heard of this before. That must have taken some original thought and research.
Michael Corleone
January 4th, 2013
10:15 am
I’m the Godfather now. If you want to talk to me, you must talk to Tam Hagen first.
Jacket78
January 4th, 2013
10:17 am
Ryan behind Flacco?? This makes his predictions and rankings obsolete.
Vincent Briyekizar
January 4th, 2013
10:36 am
Good day dear Falcon fans,
My name is Vincent Briyekizar. I am a professional better stationed in Las Vegas. I am a good predictor of the near future. MIN wins @ GB. SEA loss @ WAS. MIN loss @ ATL. WAS loss @ SF. SF loss @ ATL. ATL wins @ NO.
End of future statement. Bank it. Bet it. Above will happen.
Falcon James
January 4th, 2013
10:38 am
You know, with all the support the Falcon have received all season from the fan in New Orleans, Tampa, N. Carolina, California, Atlanta, and pretty much all of the over the globe, you have to expect there to be at least one doubter out there like Gil.
Mike Franklin
January 4th, 2013
10:44 am
I kind of agree with the Seattle scenario… but I am not sure whether it is because I think they will beat the Redskins or just because I hate having to play non-division teams twice in the same year by way of the playoffs. Either way, it seems a better route than having to re-deal with the ‘Skins and RGIII.
As for Matt Ryan? he’s something of an up-and-down QB at times. For the most part, he has a great day and connects with every receiver he tosses to. But on those rare others, he bounces the ball off the helmets of the op. Just the nature of the beast, I guess. I know that I wouldn’t want to trade him for any other QB in the league.
Mike Franklin
January 4th, 2013
10:47 am
I hope your predictions are correct Vincent… They are very possible.
Armstrong
January 4th, 2013
10:50 am
NEW ENGLAND VS FALCONS in superbowl.
Falcons win.
Final: 31 ATL 28 NE
Curtis Lofton
January 4th, 2013
10:52 am
HA… Yeah right. Falcons always find a way to choke in the playoffs. Ask me. I can tell you inside out. SEA comes to ATL and beats the breaks off them. Bank that.
Signed,
50.
Vincent Briyekizar
January 4th, 2013
10:54 am
Unfourtunately for you Mr. Lofton you won’t be apart of this wonderful Superbowl championship year the Falcons will have. SEA won’t even make it past the wild card round. WAS will come out on top by 10. Bank it.
Dirtybird of Prey
January 4th, 2013
11:04 am
What up all? I’m a long time reader, not much of a talker on these blogs, but I gotta say this, haters r going 2 b what they r so let them b, the Falcons time is coming and after it does they will still find something 2 hate about them. I’m a Falcon fan, will b cheering 4 them on Jan.13 and win or lose(they won’t lose) come Jan.14 I will still b a Falcon fan and will 4ever b a fan….as a matter of fact I’m a fan of any Alanta team……go Dirtybirds, rise up cuz we 2 legit 2 quit.
Samuel
January 4th, 2013
11:17 am
If that offensive line keeps Matt clean, I’m confident that the offense will run like an well oiled machine.If not, Matt will have to use his feet and pocket awareness to still get the ball down field. At some point the running backs have to play better than they’ve played all season.
Careful Curmudgeon
January 4th, 2013
12:04 pm
“Where guys like Flacco play better in the postseason…” Wait a minute, Flacco has been in the playoffs every year, and these are his stats in those games:
‘08-’09 AFC Wild Card Game vs. Dolphins: 9-23 123 yards, 0 TDs
‘08-’09 AFC Divisional Game vs. Titans: 11-22 148 yards, 1 TD
‘08-’09 AFC Championship Game vs. Steelers: 13-30 141 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs
‘09 AFC Wild Card Game vs. Patriots: 4-10 34 yards, INT
‘09 AFC Championship Game vs. Colts: 20-35 189 yards, 0 TDs
‘10 AFC Wild Card Game vs. Chiefs: 25-34 265 yards, 2 TDs
‘10 AFC Divisional Game vs. Steelers: 16-30 125 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
‘11 AFC Divisional Game vs. Texans: 14-27 176 yards, 2 TDs
‘11 AFC Championship Game vs. Patriots: 22-36 306 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
To be sure, Flacco’s postseason performances have been mostly uneven, and I think these stats demonstrate that he had more than his fair share of forgettable performances (ask Ed Reed). I understand stats aren’t everything and some of these numbers need context. For instance, in the 2009 AFC Wildcard Game, Flacco was hampered by injury–fair enough. And in the 2010 AFC Divisional Game, Houshmandzadeh dropped that pass in the end zone that would’ve won the game for the Ravens–fine. But, this false equivalence between Flacco and Ryan has got to stop.
Matt Ryan does need to show it in the playoffs, but I’d say with the exception of maybe last year’s 2011 AFC Championship Game, Flacco hasn’t exactly been stellar in the postseason either.
1stn10
January 4th, 2013
12:07 pm
Curtis Lofton
January 4th, 2013
10:52 am
HA… Yeah right. Falcons always find a way to choke in the playoffs. Ask me. I can tell you inside out. SEA comes to ATL and beats the breaks off them. Bank that.
Signed,
50.
We shipped our “choke” to the aints locker room.
Truth
January 4th, 2013
12:15 pm
Matt Ryan has to play better in the playoffs!! 3TD 4INT combined and a passer rating less than 80 time for MR2 to RISE UP in the playoffs!!
C. Tampa Ironworse
January 4th, 2013
12:36 pm
I would take ANY of the three rookie QBs over Flacco.
Enkinan
January 4th, 2013
12:40 pm
If Ryan has a 100+ passer rating we move on, it’s pretty much that easy.
Coach D
January 4th, 2013
12:46 pm
Curtis Lofton has the distinct (dis)honor of being the middle linebacker for the defensive team that allowed the most yards against in the history of the NFL… Keep going, Curt!
BK
January 4th, 2013
12:48 pm
I DO THINK WE WILL BE PLAYING THE SEAHAWKS BUT IF I HAD MY CHOICE IT WOULD BE THE VIKINGS, WHICH COULD BEAT THE PACKERS ..ANY GIVEN SUNDAY!! ATL DONT GET CAUGHT UP IN GETTING READY FOR SEAHAWKS BECAUSE IT COULD BE THE VIKINGS OR REDSKINS SEEN CRAZY THINGS HAPPEN BEFORE LIKE THAT…NO MATTER WHAT BE READY AND RISE UP ATL…..GO BIRDS!!!! LETS SEND TONY G. OFF IN THE SUNSET..THE RIGHT WAY!
NikkiFree
January 4th, 2013
1:34 pm
Really?! He thinks Joe Flacco is a better QB than Matt Ryan. Well, he’s been officially discredited now.
warfalcon
January 4th, 2013
1:40 pm
We do not care who comes to the Ga. Dome,the four teams can just beat up on each other and one of them will come to the Ga. Dome limping and we will take care of them.NO MORE BAD GAMES,LETS GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
1:48 pm
@Teamguy, but when it comes to the falcons it’s usually right.
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
1:49 pm
@Deepdiver, but if you read the article it says ryan is 0-3 in the playoffs and flacco plays better in the POST season.
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
1:53 pm
@Falconsfan, and it’s obvious that ryan is not the reason the falcons win playoff games either.
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
1:58 pm
And when it comes to these falcons, i’m reading a lot of IF AND HOPE.
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
2:02 pm
@Jacket78, who have more playoff wins flacco or ryan???? and if you give the defence credit you suppose to, that’s why its call team ball. Bucs won a superbowl with trent dilfer, sure the defence get a pass but the win goes to who???? trent dilfer.
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
2:07 pm
@Vincent briyekizar, looking at too much walt dizney and the Z in disney is on purpose because your wishing upon a star and your dizzy making that prediction. Lol
ASHCAN!!!!!
January 4th, 2013
2:13 pm
Superbowl: Denver/49ers. And if you they whom ever don’t like my comments, well you can kiss my ASHCAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
techbuzz
January 4th, 2013
2:15 pm
The ONLY reason Flacco has had better results in the post season over Ryan, is b/c, up until this year, Flacco has had a better defense to keep the opposing QB’s on the bench.
It’s not that Flacco is any better than Ryan as far as managing a game, it’s that Flacco had a stellar defense that allowed him to have the ball more. The only really bad mistake that Ryan has made in the play-offs, that was totally on him, was that INT he threw against Green Bay right before halftime in 2010. That TD pass to Jenkins in the endzone was not his fault, b/c Jenkins slipped. Other wise it would have been a TD.
In 2008, Brooking (who was my fav Falcon until Ryan) bit on a play action against the Cardinals and they completed a 4th and 12 to keep the drive alive, other wise would take over on downs and run out the clock.
In 2010, well…I just explained that reason
Last year, our O-line was the Giants BITCH!!! Our O-line got Ryan killed and after our defense got that safety, they just played soft the rest of the game.
I have seen Ryan make game winning drives with just 1:00 to go in the game (Baltimore 2011) to win. Ryan is very capable of winning in the play offs and now, with an opportunistic defense, not the BEST, but opportunistic, he can work his magic. Honestly, I don’t think the Falcons will allow themselves to lose in the first round, b/c they WANT that monkey off their backs!!!
Whadda Ya Know?
January 4th, 2013
2:41 pm
What does everyone say Ryan is 0-3 in the playoffs? Didn’t his teammates have something to do with their losses? More importantly, I believe the coaching staff (Mularkey, BVG & Smitty) was more to blame in these playoff losses than anyone. We have new coordinators and a few players have been added to the mix since these games. I believe we will see success in the playoffs this year once and for all. How far they go is really up to the players.
Deborah Charles
January 4th, 2013
2:47 pm
come on people-just because of the game Seattle had with the greenbay packers ya’ll so harch but that’s okay because we here in Washington State believe our Team Seattle Seahawks are going all the way. Russell Wilson is awesome along with Lynch who has improved so much, and golden tate….. yes……
dc
Polk County Falcon
January 4th, 2013
3:00 pm
Rogers is the most dangerous qb in the NFL, IMO. I hope you’re right DOL. I’d rather see anybody come here other than Adrian Peterson. Whenever l start thinking about how bad our run defense is I just have to change my train of thought to the Giants game. Amazing how it just pulls me right out of it.
Whadda Ya Know?
January 4th, 2013
3:00 pm
The Godfather is delusional too!
Whadda Ya Know?
January 4th, 2013
3:02 pm
Deborah, get past the Redskins first and then come talk to us–if Minnesota doesn’t beat Green Bay that is.
Getaway
January 4th, 2013
4:39 pm
We’ll see what happens, but I don’t think the Falcons will be taking any team for lightly this year.
Getaway
January 4th, 2013
4:43 pm
and Old Mule, please stop saying “we” and “us” when talking about the Falcons. No one here believes you or phil are Falcons fans.
Dilla
January 4th, 2013
5:34 pm
This guy is crazy to think Flaco is better than Ryan, by the same logic. Trent Dilfer is better than Dan Marino, Dan Fouts, and Jim Kelly. Alot great players who’s team didn’t excel in the playoffs and Alot of ok players have a superbowl ring just cause they wore the right jersey.
bullrusher1
January 5th, 2013
2:31 am
Well top5 is good, so, WHAT?! BEHIND FLACCO! ARE YOU FREAKING INSANE GODFATHER! Face it, Ryan is the only great or even above average QB to come out of the 08 draft.
Ledbetter blocked me
January 5th, 2013
9:29 am
Hard to disagree with the Godfather on this one. Flacco doesn’t get the deer in headlights look like Matty. Flacco plays with heart, the team feeds off of that and he exhibits more leadership in those big games. …..And finally the Ravens have just had better veteran leaders…..Falcons don’t.
Esquire
January 5th, 2013
2:32 pm
SawThat1nce
January 4th, 2013
9:09 am
All of these guys, on all of these different networks and organizations, predicting the outcome of these NFL games, are just like all of us ordinary fans, they are just guessing.
I think that the Redskins will beat the Seahawks, that’s my guess.
************************************************************
A little bit of research, a little bit of luck………..successfully picking winners is still just a guess. I’m beating both Collinsworth and Simms in Beat the Insiders, prognosticators R US.
Esquire
January 5th, 2013
3:07 pm
Ledbetter blocked me January 5th, 2013 9:29 am
Hard to disagree with the Godfather on this one. Flacco doesn’t get the deer in headlights look like Matty. Flacco plays with heart, the team feeds off of that and he exhibits more leadership in those big games. …..And finally the Ravens have just had better veteran leaders…..Falcons don’t.
****************************************
You don’t think Ryan plays with heart? I won’t even debate you on that until you give some input on how you arrive at that conclusion, but you’re wrong. Deer in the headlights look? Maybe former Falcon QB Tony Graziani (poor kid looked scared to death) but I’ve never seen Ryan nothing but calm, cool, and collected.
Flacco has had his moments but not in the playoffs. I am reposting what I wrote to a Flacco Farter recently about Joe’s playoff performances:
Joe Flacco
January 2nd, 2013
9:59 pm
Cheer up guys, I will be posting my 5th straight year with a playoff win. I have no idea what it’s like to go 1 and done. Matty Ice can you tell me how that feels?
***************************************************
Joe, why can’t ya get to the big dance. I’d say too many interceptions and poor performance in the playoffs has a lot to do with it.
2009 you got past Miami and Tennessee then threw for a measly 141 yards and 3 interceptions giving the Steelers a trip to the Super Bowl. Miami gave you 5 turnovers and you had a passer rating of 59.1 …..WOW!! Against Tennessee you managed to get only 9 first downs…………..Tennessee gave you the game with 3 turnovers and you were lucky to hit that winning field goal. But here’s where it gets better. In the AFC Championship Game to go to the SUPER BOWL you managed an 18.2 Passer Rating to go along with those 3 int’s, one of those a pick 6 to Troy Polamalu in the fourth quarter.
2010 Here you managed against New England a 10.0 Passer Rating, 4 of 10, for 34 yards, no touchdowns and 1 interception, the lowest rated game for a “winning” quarterback in a playoff game EVER. New England gifted 4 turnovers to you along with the game.
Against the Colts you managed an incredible 48.4 Passer Rating, no touchdowns and 2 interceptions. A very comfortable 20-3 win for Indy as Baltimore committed four turnovers including your two interceptions. Good Bye Ravens in the 2010 playoffs.
2011 So the Ravens beat KC 30-7, a mediocre team at best in a mediocre division Kansas City giving up the ball 5 times. Against Pittsburgh Jan 15th, 2011 A 61.1 Passer Rating. What happened Joe, you had a 21-7 halftime lead and let this one get away 31-24, another Steelers victory. You managed “3″ second half first downs…………..what’s up with that…….???
Last year you beat Houston and had a 97.1 Passer Rating, 14 of 27, 176 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT not too bad Joe. You had some help from some Houston turnovers (TJ Yates threw 3 interceptions) on a short field. Only scoring 3 points in the 2nd half isn’t really championship caliber football but you got the “W” in spite of it. You got sacked 5 times by holding the ball and only managed 11 first downs the entire game. I’m really impressed Joe. Of course, then you followed this up with a loss to New England………….whoops out of the playoffs.
Joe, here is the thing. Your record is deceiving, you haven’t played very well, hence an incredibly low playoff QB passer rating and no shot at the Big Dance. You have lived on your Defense and that is the only reason why you have the playoff wins that you do. Your defense has forced 25 turnovers in 8 playoff games, Just for perspective no team since the Eagles in 1989 has forced 50 turnovers OVER A FULL SEASON. And frankly you have done little with those gifts.
In those same years the Atlanta Falcons have faced either the NFC Super Bowl representative or the eventual Super Bowl Champion……………we’ve had no chump playoff games on the schedule. If you want to compare Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco let’s see which one leads his team to a win at the Super Bowl……………..nothing else really doesn’t matter.
ROGUEr Goodell
January 5th, 2013
3:28 pm
Until Matty Ice puts the team on his back and plays like a beast, this dude will NEVER get us to the next level. I see a lot playoff QBs playing better currently than him with waaaaay more intuitiveness… Also, please score more than 25 points!!!
Rick in Warner Robins
January 5th, 2013
7:38 pm
Ryan can make all the throws, put up all the points in the world, but if the defense can’t stop anyone, they will be one and out. The corners are horrible…can’t cover anyone so a good quarterback…i.e., Aaron Rogers and Peyton Manning will eat them alive….especially Robinson. The Falcons have absolutely zero pass rush, so they’re in deep doo-doo.
Go back to warner robins rick
January 6th, 2013
6:33 am
you mean “elite” qb’s like Drew brees. peyton, or eli??? Those? yeah cant cover anyone… dang only 11 interceptions on those three QB’s what was our defense thinking???
MarkATL
January 6th, 2013
7:34 pm
Looks like the Godfather is right folks. I’m sure the Falcons were watching the game together at Flowery Branch.
hawkzone
January 7th, 2013
8:09 am
looks like ATL better get ready for a real team instead of the practice squads they have been playing. Just remember. Don’t throw towards ET or RS
hawkzone
January 7th, 2013
8:10 am
Enter your comments here
JoFo
January 7th, 2013
8:25 am
ON January 4th, 2013 @ 9:19 am
Elvis is Alive said:
“Bring the SEA-CHICKS on!
Rookie QB in our house!
Hope Abe is able and Kroy and Babineaul attack! (I know they will, they are monsters).
If Willie Mo is back n the secondary and Asante plays without the Celebratory Victory Dance(CVD) (save the CVD for your personal DVD) we should be able to disrupt their rhythm.
They have an excellent secondary so our OL needs to keep them away from MR2.
Will Michael”Stone Legs”Turner prove he is capable of fighting for yardage?
Will he run like it is Last Call at the bar?
I cannot wait fo the game whoever we play!
Remember Falcons..”It’s Now or Next Year”..
Prove the talking heads and the haters wrong!
Focus and discipline. Stay awake for the trick college play!
Play to win!!
Rise Up..Angry Birds..Rise Up..”
I love it! LOVE it! GO FALCONSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!